Willian has declared intention to continue in the premier league. The Brazil international will depart Chelsea at the end of the season and he is looking forward to continuing his career in England.

The Brazilian winger’s contract is set to run out at the end of the season. Willian has attracted interest from hosts of top clubs around Europe. Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are among the club’s to have declared their interest in the player. In the Premier league, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have made their intention known about the player. Arsenal are also monitoring the player’s situation.Read the rest of this entry »

Chelsea favourite Joe Cole has said that the Blues hierarchy took the wrong option of not spending during the January transfer window. The west London giants could not make any new signings last summer due to a two-window transfer ban but they managed to win their appeal over the same at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December.

As such,
they were free to make new purchase at the turn of the year but surprisingly,
the board took the decision to stick with the same squad of players for the
backend of the season. That has certainly cost the side, who have barely won
over the past few months where a number of key players have suffered injury
setbacks.

French
defender Djibril Sidibe is open to the prospect of signing a permanent contract
with Everton at the end of the campaign. The right-back joined the Toffees on a
season-long loan from AS Monaco over the summer and over the past month, he has
been able to cement a regular role ahead of Seamus Coleman.

Speaking
to reporters, the World Cup winner stated that there was interest from a
Spanish club during the summer but he instead decided to join the Toffees after
a personal chat with manager Marco Silva. He added that he is enjoying his time
with the Merseyside outfit and a decision over a permanent deal will be made at
the end of the season.

Chelsea
boss Frank Lampard has said that Fikayo Tomori could partner Antonio Rudiger at
the heart of the defence once the German returns from a groin problem. The
Blues graduate started the season as the backup option behind Andreas
Christensen and Kurt Zouma, but he has jumped ahead of them in the selection
order after making the most of the opportunities offered.

The
youngster has been ever-present in the league since the 2-2 draw against Sheffield
United before the international break and speaking to reporters, Lampard has
said that Tomori is now regarded as one of the starters for the central
defensive role, he told: “As far as Rudiger I don’t see it as a one for one. I
have four very good centre backs, contesting for two or three positions and
what Tomori has done is give himself a really, really good start in the race
from the way he has played and now he is competing officially for one of those
starting slots.”

Denmark
international Andreas Christensen has said that Chelsea can anticipate a tough
beginning to the season despite finding their touch during recent friendly
games. The west London giants were able to score freely during the backend of
the pre-season campaign, but there were concerns in the defensive scheme of
things as they struggled to limit the opposition from scoring.

Speaking to
the club’s official website, Christensen said that the team are prepared for
the new season after getting a good test during pre-season. He added that the
club can’t expect an easy beginning to the campaign and an away game against
Manchester United at Old Trafford should provide them with a tough challenge.

Chelsea
boss Frank Lampard has confirmed that Ethan Ampadu will be making the move away
from the Blues on a temporary basis this summer. The 18-year-old has made just
12 appearances during the past two seasons with the club and Lampard believes
the teenager will benefit from regular gametime at a new club next term.

Speaking to
reporters in Japan, Lampard revealed that Ampadu has not suffered any injury in
pre-season training and he has been excluded from the travelling squad with the
view to pursuing a temporary move elsewhere, he said:“Ethan’s not injured. We
are looking at the possibility of Ethan going on loan for the season.

“I tried to
sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year so I’m a big fan, but with the minutes he
played last year, in the interest of Ethan and of Chelsea, the idea he can play
a lot of games somewhere could be good for him. That’s not done yet but we
haven’t brought him here while that’s up in the air. I really wanted to work
with Ethan this year. That’s a slight disappointment, but it’s to benefit of
him. In midfield and defence we have a lot of quality, so each player is a case
by case.”

Thereafter, they have three more friendlies against Reading, Red Bull Salzburg, and Borussia Monchengladbach before the opening game of the new Premier League campaign. Lampard may not have expected a tougher beginning with the Blues having to make the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United for the league opener.